Blackstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Year: 2009
Price: 8.99 (Marked Down from 9.99)
Rating: 3 - Will try it again
Where Bought: Pick N' Save
Comments: This wine was one of my least favorite wines that I bought recently. It shocked me, since the previous Blackstone's were quite good. I attribute it to either the new year of grapes, its a 2009, or the fact that the store didn't properly store it. Either way, I won't give up on a past decently good wine. Even though I cannot give it glowing remarks, I will say that it tasted better chilled.

Wente Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Year: 2008
Price: 11.99 (Marked down from 13.99)
Rating: 3 - Will try it again
Where Bought: Pick N' Save
Comments: A surprisingly nice Cabernet. It was smooth and enjoyable with a creamy pasta dinner. Being that this was the first time we tried this wine, I will reserve judgement and just give it a rating of 3, where I will try it again. A nice smooth enjoyable wine.

Robert Mondavi Merlot 2008

Type: Merlot
Year: 2008
Price: 8.99
Rating: 3 - Will try it again
Where Bought: Pick N' Save
Comments: A nice simple merlot, a very good wine with dinner. I need to try it again to provide additional comments. You can't go wrong with the price.

Clos du Bois Merlot 2007

Type: Merlot
Year: 2007
Price: 13.99
          (13.99 - Otto's Brown Deer, Dec 15th 2012) 
Rating: 3 - Will try it again
Where Bought: Pick N' Save
Comments: Clos du Bois has been a consistant staple merlot for me in the past. I was always satisfied with their flavor, texture and full bodied taste. The reason I gave this one a rating of only 3, is because for the first time, it didn't live up to my expectations. It seemed a little on the lighter side, but definitely still a good taste. Perhaps I have been enjoying Cabernet's lately and caused this Merlot to be lighter on the palette ? To see how this 2007 Merlot compares to its own predessessor's, see my posts on the Clos du Bois Merlot 2003 and the Clos du Bois Merlot 2005. Either way, I still like it and would like to continue giving it another try. I won't give up on this great tasting wine that easily !

Gionelli Asti - Italy

Type: Sparkling Wine
Year: 2010
Price: 8.99
Rating: 3 - Will try it again
Where Bought: Sendik's Brookfield
Comments: Very nice sparkling wine to ring in the new year. Asti's have a nice taste, on the sweeter side, but not too sweet. Just enough for taste.

Ballatore Gran Spumante - California

Type: Sparkling Wine
Year: 2009
Price: ?
Rating: 3 - Will try it again
Where Bought: ?
Comments: Nice sparkling wine to ring in the new year. I don't remember much about this one, since we originally purchased it for New Year's 2009. Tried it for 2010, and it still tasted very good.

Estancia Merlot 2008 Central Coast

Type: Merlot (Central Coast)
Year: 2008
Price: 9.99 (Marked down from 12.99)
11.99 - Dec. 17th 2010
Rating: 4 - Would definitely buy again
Where Bought: Otto's Brown Deer
Pick N' Save - Dec. 17th 2010
Comments: This was a pleasantly surprising nicely bodied wine. The reason I say surprising, is that with the exception of a few, most Merlot's seem a little on the light side. Perhaps, this is due to the fact that I like Cabernet's which are generally a heavier full-bodied wine. Anyway, this one was very nice and perhaps its the grapes used in the 2008 version. I would definitely try it again, and I hope it wasn't just a one time good tasting wine.